Metroid Dread: How to Counter Enemies

In Metroid Dread, Samus Aran is armed with powerful long-range weapons like her Beam Cannon and Missiles, but there are times when she can get up close and personal with enemies, countering their attacks with a swift melee maneuver to open their defenses and destroy them with a single shot.

Here’s how to perform this powerful counter in Metroid Dread.

How to Counter Enemies in Metroid Dread

Countering enemies in Metroid Dread requires good reflexes and knowledge of the enemies’ attack patterns, as the counter window timings are different for each enemy. To perform a counter, you need to press the X button as the enemy flashes white. If the counter is performed correctly, the camera will zoom in, the enemy will be left defenseless briefly and will die if hit. Enemies defeated with a counter also drop more Energy Orbs and Missiles, so consider taking a risk if you need healing or more ammo.

How to Counter an E.M.M.I. in Metroid Dread

The E.M.M.I. are among the most annoying enemies Samus will have to take down while exploring planet ZDR, as they cannot be defeated by Samus’ regular arsenal and can kill her with a single hit upon contact. If an E.M.M.I. grabs you, however, it is not the end, as it’s possible to counter them by pressing the X button either when the E.M.M.I. grabs Samus or right before it launches its impaling attack. The timing is extremely strict, so you shouldn’t rely on countering these enemies too much, but with a little bit of practice, you may be able to counter the E.M.M.I most of the time and show them how Samus isn’t defenseless even without the powerful Omega Cannon.